subject: Psychology Of Smoking [print this page] Let's face itLet's face it. We all know the health risks of smoking, not to mention the financial costs, and ill-effects on our appearance. It smells bad, tastes bad, gives you bad breath and is becoming increasingly unsociable. So why do smokers smoke? Well the answer is not because they don't know about the consequences of their bad habit, but it is because the reasons for smoking are psychological.
Why Did You Start Smoking?
Glamorization of smoking in movies and the media, marketing and advertising campaigns by multi-billion dollar global tobacco corporations lure smokers with promises of sex-appeal and fashion status. Most people are unaware of the underlying reasons for their habit. Usually people start smoking to attempt to change their self-image, or in a mis-guided attempt to deal with stress or lose weight. Smoking of course does not help these situations, this is a mere illusion.
Reasons people give for starting smoking:
To fit in with a crowd (peer pressure)
To look cool or grown-up
Show independance
Appear fearless, unafraid
Influenced by family, relatives or famous icons.
Lose weight
Stay calm
Sex appeal
Of course, we all know that these reasons are illusions and the reality is something different. When people were later asked why they still smoked, the story was much different, here's what they said:
Why Are You Still Smoking?
'Ding Ding!' What's that? Is that Pavlov's bell I hear?
Dr. Ivor Pavlov a psychologist famously investigated habits when he trained dogs to salivate by ringing a bell, in response to believing they would be fed. Smoking is similar to this response. When asked why they continue to smoke, many smokers give vague responses. The illusion is gone and the main reason is because of habit. Here are some reasons people give for continuing to smoke:
* Not particular reason (but cigarettes are at hand)
* To stay calm
* Because of a restless feeling
* To take a work break
* When socializing with friends
* After a meal
* After sex
* Urge to smoke
* When drinking alcoholic drinks, tea or coffee
* Driving
* To celebrate
* To help think about difficult problems.
Dealing with breaking the habits that get us to smoke is the easiest way to quit. However, most of us never address these issues and go right back to smoking.
